Riding saddle attachment



Feb. 22, 1938. s. DOUGLAS RIDING SADDLE ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 8, 1936 Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved riding saddle, and more specifically to saddles used in racing, playing polo, and similar sports where fast riding is essential.

It is commonly known that in work or sport where the speed of the horse is accentuated, and where it is desired to relieve the horse of as much weight as possible, it is difficult for the rider to maintain his speed and balance on turns. It is also known that the horse can travel better and with more ease to the rider if the weight of the rider is given the same general swing as maintained by the horse in his travel, and that if the horse can be relieved at intervals of such weight, and especially as the horse is lunging forward, the speed of the horse can be increased.

Among the objects of my invention is the construction of a saddle in which the stirrups are suspended with yielding means so the rider can assist the horse by lessening the weight on the horse at the times selected by springing upward in the saddle.

Another object is a device which anchors or braces the rider to the saddle for the safety and a comfort of the rider.

Another object is to provide a yielding stirrupsupport in which the distance between the stirrup and means for embracing the thigh is approximately constant.

Another object is the construction of a device which permits the rider to time his movements to the stride of the horse.

Other objects will hereinafter be referred to.

I accomplish these objects by means of the device herein described, and illustrated on the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 shows my device complete attached to a fractional saddle. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a tubular member encasing the springs and other elements assembled therewith, Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the support for holding the stirrup assembly to the saddle and girth of the saddle. Fig. 4 is a separate view of the means for embracing and holding the thigh of the rider.

Referring to the drawing, I have shown an ordinary riding saddle H], which is provided on each side with a support bar H for engaging a member hereinafter described for attaching the stirrup assembly to the saddle. This support bar corresponds in all respects to the bar, or loop or eye which has been in use to attach the stirrup straps to the saddle.

The stirrup assembly consists of a tube l3, having an interior flange l4 positioned approximately midway between the ends of the tube. Com- 7 with an upper and a lower eye l8.

pression springs are formed to fit within the tube and to rest upon the flange. A thimble, or bushing I6 is formed for each end of the tube, and the inside of the bushing should be cup shaped and adapted to nest one end of the springs. A rod 11, threaded at the ends, is adapted to pass through the tube and springs along the approximate center line of the tube, and to be screwed into the thimbles, or otherwise attached thereto. Each end of rod l1 terminates Eye I8 is preferably shaped to receive a strap l9, by which strap stirrup is assembled with rod H. On the opposite end of rod I! is a curved member, or leg support 2| which is adapted to fit over the leg of the rider. Leg support 2| is attached to the upper eye I 8 by means of a strap, or loop ISA, which connects the upper eye l8 and cross bar MA on said support.

Approximately at the center of the tube between the ends thereof, on the outside of the tube, is a right angle extension, or male boss joint 22, which serves as a bearing for a swivel connection 23. Swivel connection 23 is provided with a female socket 22A adapted to fit joint 22, so that the swivel connection can rotate thereon. The swivel connection is also provided with an enlarged opening 25 adjoining the socket, into which a Washer 26 is fitted. A screw 26A passes through the washer and into the metal forming joint 22. The function of the enlarged opening, the washer and the screw is to hold the swivel connection in assembled relation with the stirrup assembly.

Means for connecting the stirrup assembly to the saddle consists of a support 39, having a channel 38 therein wide enough to receive the-swivel connection. A plurality of holes 3| are formed through the flanges 39, which flanges form the channel. Any two opposite holes 3i are adapted to register with a hole 32 which is formed through the swivel connection along a diameter thereof, and a pin 35 passes through said holes 3! and 32, thereby pivotally attaching the swivel connection to support 30. It is noted that by means of the pin 35 and the swivel connection mounted on boss joint 22, the tube supporting the stirrup and leg support 2| is permitted to have a rocking movement and a rotary movement.

Support has a hook 34 at the end, said hook cooperating with support bar II, and bar H is attached to the saddle tree. The opposite end of support 30 is attached by means of strap 31 to the saddle girth 9.

It is noted that a stirrup assembly support and stirrup assembly should be attached to each side of the saddle.

It isnoted that when the member 2| is engaged with the thigh it serves as an anchor for the rider, and assists him in clinging to'the saddle when the horse is making unusual movements.

It is also noted that the natural position of a jockey when riding is that his legs are bent at an angle at the knee, usually at an acute angle, and the foot is positioned in the stirrup. When the horse is running the rider naturally assumes a rocking, or up and down movement which is timed with the movement of the horse, andthe fact that the Weight of the driver is suspended on springs, and that much, if not all, of the weight of the jockey is supported by the stirrups, when the jockey springs upward in the. saddle he thus relieves the horse for a brief space of time of his weight. In this springing movement the member 2| which holds the thigh of the rider gives the rider a steady movement, and

anchors him to the saddle so that he cannot be easily dismounted. 7 r

' Having described my invention I claim as new and ask for Letters Patent:

1. In combination with a riding saddle having stirrups, of yielding means adapted to suspend the stirrups from the saddle, said yielding means consisting of a tube, a flange within the tube approximately midway between the ends there- I of, compression springs within the tube resting against either side of the flange, a rod passing through the tube and springs along the approximate center line of the tube, said rod being provided at either end with a plunger, each plunger being adapted to slide within the tube, and adapted as a nest for the end of the spring, means at one end of the rod to attach the stirrup, means at the opposite end of the rod to engage the thigh of the rider, and a swivel connection adapted to attach the stirrup support to the saddle and to r the saddle girth, said swivel connection being adapted to permit the stirrup support to have a limited universal movement on said swivel.

2. In a riding saddlehaving a saddle tree, a

saddle girth, and stirrups, of means for attaching' the stirrup to the saddle consisting of a plate forming a link in the saddle girth, being attached at one end to the saddle tree and at the other end to thesaddle girth, a stirrup support having a portion thereof formed of a rigid member,

said rigid member being attached to the plate with a swivel adaptedto permit the rigid member to have a limited universal movement, means for attaching the stirrup to one end of the rigid member, and means attachedto the opposite 7 end to hold the thighof the rider, 

